Zero key mechanism for key set registers



Mc'd' EL 1&3@ E. gt BRT-BEN, JR. ZERO KEY MECHANISM FOR KEY SETREGISTERS" Filed Sept. 22, 1925 4 Sheecs-Sheei l v @EGE l i V Y l n,lr/T7 E m @ETE W@ M9 930, E. F. WETTEN, JR

ZERO KEY MECHANISM FOR KEY SET REGISTER Filed Sepi. :il Sheets-Sheet 2 wm M@ n, M w ,6m ww MJ 4 vQ Marh 11, 1930 E F, BR1TTEN, .J R 1,750,565

ZERO KEY MECHANISM FOR KEY SET REGISTERS Filed sept. 22. 1925 4sheets-sheet 5 March 11 1930., E. F, BRlTTE-N, JR 15,759,565

, ZERO KEY MEGHANISM FOR KEY SET REGISTERS Filed Sept. 22.v 1925 lSheets-Shf-:el 4

dnn/117A Patented Mar. 1v1, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWIN F.BRITTEN, JR., OF MAPLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE -AS-SIGNMENTS, TO MONROE CALCULATING MACHINE COMPANY; 0F ORANGE, NEW JERSEY,A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE ZERO-KEY MECHANISM FOR KEY-SETR-EGrISTlEllx'fS Application led September The invention has relation toZero key mechanism for key-set registers, such for instance as thecalculating machine disclosed in the Monroe Patent 1,306,606; theBritten Patent 1,474,230, and the Phinney Patent 1,432,616. While thisinvention is shown as applied to the Monroe calculating machine,

its use is not confined to this reversible cycle the column which ifdepressed will release the column lock, for restoration of any depressedkey of the column to normal position. In machines of this type it hasbeen'cust'omary to provide repeat and'non-repeat .key mechanism similarto that shown in said Monroe and Phinney patents, which for nonrepeatoperations operates in such a manner that if an item is set up in thekeyboard and the machine is operated once, as in addition orsubtraction, all of the column locks will be released and the l to 9keys simulta neously automatically restored .to their normal elevatedposition. For purpose of making multiplication and divisioncalculations, however, it is desirable to operate the machine severaltimes without changing the key setting, and therefore the repeat keymechanism provides that the column locks l will remain undisturbed anddepressed keys of the keyboard will remain .depressed through any numberof cycles of operation, until suitable releasing mechanism is manuallyoperated for return of depressed keys to normal position.

In performing additions and subtractions by the non-repeat method therehas been the objection that as soon as the-key valuehas been registeredthe keys are returned to normal position, andthe key value being-addedinto and merged with the previous numeral Wheel reading, the operatorhad no means of checking back to determine whether or not the correctkeys had been depressed. If,

22, 1925. Serial N0. 57,868.

however, additions and subtractions are performed by the repeat method,the keys which have been depressed `remain depressed after theregistration has been made, and the operator may, by glancing at them,determine whether or not the correct key value has been registered. Ifan error has been made, a reverse rotation of the operating crank (orthe equivalent manipulation) will cancel the registration, after whichthe keyboard setting ,may be corrected and the correct value reglstered.This method of operation with the `repeat key set has been brought intoquite general use within recent years, and has been termed locked igureaddition. By using this system it is possible to perform additions,subtractions,multiplications and divisions without setting for repeat ornonr'epeat operation.

Anobject of the present invention is to provide mechanism whereby theoperation of locked figure addition may be accomplished by an improvedmethod. Other objects and advantages will hereafter` appear.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combinations ofparts, as set forth in the appended claims. In the accompanyingdrawings, illustrating an embodiment of the invention:

` Figure 1 is a plan view of a calculating machine to which theinvention isshown as applied.

Figure 2 is a section, taken on the line 2-2,'

Figure 1. v Figure 2a is a detail face view of a l key; cooperatingparts appearing in section.

Figure 3 is a detail front view of a portion of the keyboard, with partsof the lcasing removed and parts in section, the keys being in normal'position, with -diiierent keys depressed in two adjacent columns.

Figure 4 is a detail front view of the clear and oneofthe zero keys andassociated parts, with the clear key in depressed position, assumedduring operation thereof.

Figure 5 isa side view of the same.

Figure 6 is a detail side view of the repeat and non-repeat mechanism,with the non-repeat key depressed.

Figure 7 is a detail face view of the nonrepeat key.

Figure 8 is a detail plan view of the mechanism ofFigure 6, but with theparts positioned by the depression of the repeat kev.

The keg/board In these drawings the keys representing the digits 1 to 9are designated by the nu'- meral 1. more columns, represent-ingvalueswhich are to be registered, the operating crank 3 is rotated onceforwardly if itis desired to add the key value, and once reversely insubtracting. The rotation of the operating-crank causes the key valuesto be registered upon the register wheels 13, which will accumulate thetotal. The carriage 2 in which register wheels 13 are mounted may beshifted transversely by use of the knob 16, in order that key Values maybe registered in the higher or lower value register wheels as required.Counting wheels 17 are provided 'which will register the number offorward or reverse rotations of the operating crank 3, therebyregistering the multiplier in multiplication or the quotient indivision. rThe register wheels and the counting wheels may be restoredto zero by operation of the zeroizing crank 7 The constructional detailsproviding these general operative features are well known in the art andform no part of the present invention. l

In carrying out the present invention the column correction' keys becomezero keys (one -zero key for each'denominational column),

and are so marked upon the heads thereof, similar to the marking of theother keys.

Each column of keys of the machine is provided witha key locking bar 4,shown in Figures 2 to 4. This bar is pivoted at its ends upon pins 5 andis actuated by spring 6 to engage with notches of the key stems, eachdigital keyl stem having upper and lower notches 11 and 8 (see Fig. 2a).The lock bar normally engages the lower notches of the key stems, andengages the upper notches of said stems to hold the keys in setposition, the lower'notches having each a cam edge 10 acting in thedepression of any key to cam the lock bar outwardly to release any otherdepressed key of the related column, each key having a return spring 9,all as stated in detail in said patents.

The zero key of each denominational column is provided with upper andlower notches'23 and 24, (see Figs. 3 and 4) and is adapted to be lockedin a partially depressed position by the aforesaid lock bar 4 of therelated column engaging the upper notch 23 thereof. For reasons whichwillv be explained each notch may be provided with a cam upper edge 25,so that the lock bar 4 will be cammed outwardly to release positiontwice during the complete depression of a zero key. The

After keys have been set in one or upper notch 23 is engaged by lock bar4 to hold the zero key in partially depressed position, as in Figure 3,while the lowerl notch 24 has the same oce yprecisely as the lower notch8 of keys 1.

It is thus apparent that if an operator depresses a zero key, any otherkey in the related column will be released and restored to normalposition, and the zero key will be held partially depressed, with thelock bar 4 engaging the upper notch thereof, but capable of the vzerokeys simultaneously to the full eX- tent of their strokes. AThis meansconsists of universal bar 27 having an upper flange 28 under whichengage the lower lugs 32 of the Zero keys, each Zero key having itslower end bent to form such lug, and said universal bar having an endextension 33 engaged by a shoulder 36 of said clear key. Spring meansare provided to normally hold universal bar 27 and clear key 22 inelevated'position. In this way all depressed keys of the keyboard higherthan the zero keys will be released and restored to normal raisedposition, and all of the zero keys will be held in partially,depressedposition following release of the clear key.

It is desirable, if by improper operation a zero key and any higher key1 to 9 should be both locke-d down simultaneously by lock bar 4, thatdepressioniof the said zero key oreof the clear key shall operate saidlock bar and release said Vhigher key 1l to 9, and 'that the zero keyshall be held in partially depressed position, and it is for t-hisreasonthat the upper notch 23 of the zero key may be provided with the uppercam edge 25, acting in the movement ofthe zero key from partiallyydepressed to completely depressed position to move said lock baroutwardly to release position. Upon release of the zero key fromcompletely depressed position it will be restored to partially depressedposition by its return spring, whereuponthe lock bar 4 will engage notch23 to hold the key partially depressed. This extra movement .of the Zerokey from partially ydepressed to fully depressed position thereforeadmits of the res- Selective clearing operations Should no erroneoussetting of a zero and a 1 to 9 key be present, a partial depression ofthe clear key will`be suiiicient to clear the keyboard. By this methodof operation, the lock bars in columns wherein no key 1 to 9 is indepressed position, and the zero keys in such columns, need be operatedonly suiiciently to provide for clearance between' the walls of notches23 of the zero keys being depressed andthe corresponding lock bars 4.

Thus the clear key will be relieved of theload encountered in moving'the lock bars and 25 Zero keys in columns needing no clearing.

The Zero and clear key combination dis-.

closed hereinalso provides` for the splitting of the keyboard betweenany columns desired,^so that keys in the selected columns may berendered irresponsive to release by an operative movement of the clearkey.

In columns whereinp'ermanent setting is desired, a value key isdepressed while the zero key is held with notch 23 thereof opposite bail4. Preferably,all the zero keys are held in this position by means ofthe clear key, while value keys in the selected columns are being set.Uponvrelease of the Zero keys, they will remain depressed,notwithstanding that value keys are also held down in the same columns.Selective operation of the clear key, as above explained, will notrelease value keys set in this manner, since the zero keys are alreadydepressed, while it will, `of course, release all value keys yset in theusual way.

When it is desired to clear the entire keyboard, the zero keys may beindividually or selectively depressed to the full extent of theirstroke; other value keys may be depressed, or other clearing meansemployed.

In the construction illustrated herein, the above described selectiveclearing operations are facilitated by the added spring tensionvencountered by the clear key after the Zero keys have been depressed tolocking'position, since a light manual stroke may readily be checked atthis point.

All of the above operations relate -to locked figure addition, themethod of operation above mentioned.

Although termed locked figure addition, the system is generally usedalsofor subtraction, and corresponds to the system'used formultiplication and division calculations.

Repeat and noa-repeat key mechanism Inl this invention the functioningof the clear key is entirely independent of the mechanism for restoringthe depressed keys of all columns to normal position at the end of thestroke of the operating crank, said mechanism including the repeat andnon-re# peat keys and being used ,only optionally, I

since it is not essential to the performance of any mathematicalcalculation.' It may further be used to clear the entire keyboard, if-

certain value keys have been rendered irresponsive to release by anoperative movement of the cleary key.

rhe repeat and non-repeat key mechanism of the said Phinney Patent1,432,616, has been modified somewhat to provide for its properoperation in conjunction with the clear key and zero key mechanism ofthis machine Figures, -7 and 8 show these modifications sufficiently.

rlhe operating crank 3 is secured to driving gear 19, carrying pin 29(Figs. 6 and 8). Cam 18 is loosely mounted on the same axis" as gear 19,and is driven by 'pin 29, there being lost motion of said pin betweenthe opposite sides of the cam as the direction of rotation of-crank 3 isreversed, thereby Gaus;

- the. cam to lag and to function at the proper time, in eitherdirection of rotation. Cam 18 operates lever 14, fulcrumed at 15 andhaving its movement limited by stop 37, working in slot 39 of saidlever. Bell lever 21, fulcrumed at 40 (see Fig. 8), is engaged by lever14 and engages slide 12, to thereby operate rock bars 4 (see Fig. 3)andrelease all keys of the keyboard, from O to 9. Slide 12 is operatedonly `for non-repeatiregistrations. The character of the operation isselectively controlled by moving the lever 14 into or out of the path ofcam 18, the lever 14 being slidable transversely of its plane Jvith itsfulcrum stud 15 and slidably adjusted by operation of key 20, which hasa cam slot 30 engaged bythe tail arm 35 of said lever, the cam edges ofsaid slot causing the shifting of lever 14 toward the right or the leftfor non-repeat or 'repeat operations whenever key-2O is depressed orraised. Key 2O being depressed, the upper end of'cam slot 30 will holdlever v14 in its operative position, as shifted tothe right, andl saidkey being r'aised, as in Figure `8, the lower end of said cam slot willhold lever 14 in its inoperative position, as shifted to the left.

Talking beam lever 34 is fulcrumed on s tud 41 and engages at one end aslot in key 20 and at its other end a similar slot in a key 3 1, workingin conjunction with key 2Ol Spring pawl 38 serves to releasably holdlever 34 in either position taken in the operation of key 20 or key 31,and lever 34 connects said keys so that either one or the other keyAwill be depressed at all times, and the depression of one key Willcause the other key to rise.v Thus when key 81 is depressed, repeatedrotations of operating crank 3 may be made WithoutI releasing any of thekeys to 9 of the keyboard, but when key 2O is depressed, all depressedkeys of the keyboard will be released and will be restored to normalposition Whenever operating crank 3 is rotated once in either direction.This repeat and nonrepeat key mechanism is the same as that of saidPhinney patent, except thatthe lever 14 is now independent of the clearkey, instead of being operated thereby.

Operation V lVhen the mechanism is set for non-repeat operations theaction of the machine is the same as in said Phinney patent, exceptingthat if a Zero key is depressed to make a correction it will so remainuntil the operating crank 3 is rotated once or until another key in thesame column is depressed; and if the clear-key 22 is depressed to makethe correction, all zero keys will be depressed and locked in partiallydepressed position.

lVhen the machine isoperated by the -repeat key method, with repeat key31 depressed, the clear key 22 is the only means for releasing all ofthe keys l to 9 inclusive of the keyboard, and upon operation of theclear key the zero keys Willbe' or will remain depressed. If any keyfrom 0 to 9 of a given column is depressed it will release any other keyor keys of the column which has been depressed, and the new key s'ettingWill remain through any 'number of cycles of operation of the operatingcrank 8, until altered by depression 'of another key of the same columnor of theclear key.

lVith this method of operation, one key in every column Will bedepressed at all times,

. this enabling an operator to determine by glancing at the zero keysWhether or not values from 1 to 9 are set up in any column, Withoutlookingat all of the keys of the columns.

It frequently occurs that successive key settings involved repeateddepression of a. key in certain columns and not in others.v For example,one item to be registered may be $44.25 and the next item $44.75, inwhich case the operator needs merely depress the 70 key, in place of thepreviously depressed 20g/ key. In this example the operation of threekeys is avoided through the use of the locked figure addition system.Onvthe other hand, by this system it becomes necessary to depress zerokeys `or vthe clear key in order to obtain a properkey setting undercertain conditions. For example, if $5.55 has been added, and the nextitem is $5.00, the- 559% keys should be released by depressingthe Zerokeys of these columns. Through using the locked figure addition7 system,the operation of the repeat and non-repeat keys as the operator changesfrom multiplication to addition, or from one calculation to another ofopposite nature, may be eliminated. This again has a tendency tosimplify the Work, and prevents error through failure to properly setthe machine before starting a calculation, only toiind after some workhas been done that the machine was improperly set and the operation mustbe' started over again. In some cases it is preferable for thel operatorto strike the clear key between items added and make anentirely newkeyboard setting, and in other cases it Would be easier to revise theold setting by depressing the proper Zero and 1 to 9 keys.

-taining more accuracy and speed in the operation of the machine.

The utility of the split keyboard involves series of operationscontaining both variable and constant factors, and may be illustrated byan 'example involving a constant divisor. Heretofore, after the first division had been accomplished, the divisor was cleared from thekeyboard, so that anew dividend could be set up and transferred to thenumeral xvheels. y

By the use of the present invention, the operationin dividing 4276v and5478 by 1728 (as an example which may be supposed to be extendedindefinitely by the inclusion of other dividends) would be accomplishedas follows: l

lVith the carriage 2 shifted to the extreme left and with the vzero keysheld in their locked-down position, set up the divisor, 1728, at theright of the keyboard. Set up the first dividend, 4276, at the left ofthe keyboard, in the usual Way, Without holding the Zero keys. Rotatethe crank?, forwardly for one turn, whereupon the dividend and thedivisor will appear upon the numeral Wheels 13 and the numeral l uponthe Wheels 17. The clear key is now partially depressed, therebyclearing the dividend 4267 from the keyboard lbut leaving the divisor1728 set up. Rotate the crank 3 reversely for one turn, to remove thenumber 1 from the Wheel 17'; this operation also removing the divisorfrom the wheels 13. Shift the carriage to the right until the dividendin Wheels 13 is directly over the divisor on the keyboard, and operatethe crank 3 and carriage shifting knob 16, to

les v accomplish the division in the Well-known A manner. At thecompletion of the operation,

' lating machines, including a plurality of co1- umns of digital valueand zero keys, holding means for each column, said keys being each`adapted -When depressed to be so held by the related holding means andeach further adapted upon depression to move the related holding meansand release any set key of the same column, and means including a membercommon to the zero keys for depressing all zero keys.

2. Selecting mechanism for key-set calculating machines, including aplurality of columns of digital .value and other keys, a holding membercommon to each column, said keys being each adapted When depressed to beso held by the related member and each further adapted u-pon depressionto move the related member and release any'set key ofthe same column,said other keys being each When set further movable and adaptedthereupon to move the related member and release any set digital key ofthe same column.

3. Selecting-mechanism for key-set calculating machines, including aplurality of columns of digital value keys, a holding meinber for eachcolumn, said keys being each adapted when depressed to be so held by therelated holding member and each further adaptedupon depression to movethe related holding member and release any set key of the same column,and clearing means including" a vmember manually `operable to select andmove the holding members of columns Wherein digital value keys are setand to release said keys.

4. In a. key-set calculating machine having a' plurality of banks ofdepressible value keys. and means for holding the keys of each bank indepressed position; universal clearing means operative to release thedepressed keys from their holding means and including a clear key andmeans selectively manipulable to render the depressed value .keys in anyof said banks irresponsive to an operative movement of said clear key.

5. In a key-set calculating machine havy 'ing a plurality of banks ofdepressible value keys, andmeans for holding the keys of each bank indepressed position; universal clearing means operative to release thedepressed keys from their holding means and including a clear keyandkeys individual to the banks and depressible simultaneously With valuekeys in the same banks to render the latter keys irresponsive to anoperative movement of said clear key.

6. In a key-set calculating machine having a plurality of banks ofdepressible value keys, and means for holding the keys of each bank indepressed position; universal clearing means including a member operableto release the depressed keys in any selected portion of the keyboard,and a second universal clearing means operable invariably to clear theentire keyboard. A

7. In a key-set calculating machine having a plurality of banks ofdepressible value keys, and means for holding the keys of each bank indepressed position; universal clearing means including a member operableto re-A lease the depressed keys in any selected portion of the keyboardand including keys individual to the banks and operable at any time torelease the keys in the same banks.

In testimony whereof I aiiX my signature.

nDWiN rqBRrrTEN, JR.

